Ash borer detected in Roseville

A tree on private property in Roseville is infested with emerald ash borers, dooming the tree to the chain saw and causing the city of Roseville to alert neighbors to possible infestations.

The tree is on the 2800 block of Snelling Avenue N.

Emerald ash borers are an imported species fatal to ash trees in the United States, where the insects have no established natural enemies. About 25 percent of the public trees in Roseville are ash.

The ash borer’s first detection in Minnesota was in St. Paul in May 2009. The pest has since been detected in other locations in the metro area, including Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, but Hennepin and Ramsey counties are the only counties under a quarantine affecting the handling of ash wood. Houston and Winona Counties, in far southeastern Minnesota, are also under quarantine.

Roseville residents who have concerns about ash trees on their property are encourage to contact Roseville’s Seasonal Forestry Technician Anita Twaroski at 651-792-7142.